Hundreds raised for charity by 10-year-old

Eloise Ridgway from Hinckley who raised more than £400 for a children’s charity when she organised a non-uniform day at Battling Brook Primary School

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A schoolgirl organised a fundraiser for a charity which helps children effected by the Chernobyl disaster.

Eloise Ridgway, 10, from Hinckley, put on a non-uniform day at Battling Brook Primary School which raised £443 for the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children charity.

Pupils from the school were first introduced to the charity when it held an assembly last year.

The charity was formed after a nuclear reactor exploded in 1986 and 70% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus, contaminating the ground and the food that is grown there and eaten every day.

The charity brings around 500 children from Belarus to the UK for a month long holiday, where they get taken to the dentist, opticians, given nutritious meals and taken on days out to places such as Bosworth Battlefield and Bradgate Park.

Eloise’s family hosted one of the children in need in August 2014. The Year 5 pupil decided she wanted to raise money so that more children could be helped. Eloise said: “I wanted to help these children that don’t have all the things we have. It’s not just toys and gadgets; they don’t even have food in their fridge.

“Our charity gives them a holiday and new experiences and helps prevent them getting cancer in their teenage years, by cleaning out their immune system with fresh air and good food.”

During the non-uniform day Eloise shared the details and photographs of the visit with other pupils and showed them what a difference four weeks made to her host child as well as making her realise how lucky we are.

Headteacher Stewart Marsden said: “I think it’s great and it shows just how much compassion she has.

“One of our school aims is to teach the children we are all of equal worth and we should do our best for others.

“Eloise has got a really big heart. Her idea came to fruition and has raised money which will benefit other children’s lives.